Professional Woodworkers Sharing Business Strategies

In May 2009, Cleveland’s Plain Dealer reported the closure of a woodshop in the city of Bay Village, Ohio. Hobbyists and volunteers used the shop, which was actually owned by the city. They built projects for themselves and various charities, including the local historical society’s Osborn House. The closure came after a routine insurance inspection found a number of problems. According to the newspaper, “the shop’s home-designed exhaust system for sawdust is a fire hazard, along with the fumes from thinners, paints and glues as well as the open pilot furnace located within the shop space.”

All economic signs point to a slow recovery from the recession. The overall economy looks a bit brighter than a couple of years ago — or at least this is what the politicians tell us. For this and other good reasons, many woodworkers are considering renovating or enlarging their shop or building a new one. This, plus the acquisition of more modern equipment will involve the investment of several thousands of dollars.

Believe it or not, when it comes to software, there is such a thing as a free lunch. Free office and business software, the equal of what comes off the store shelf, is out there and it’s not hard to find. But there are some caveats.

In a lean economy, small businesses need to arm themselves with as many options as possible. You must learn to evolve with the changing climate of consumer behavior if you wish to survive. It could be likened to Darwin’s theory on “survival of the fittest.” The level of success you experience in your business is closely tied to how “fit” it is.